Why I bought a hybrid
Gas is around $2 a gallon, and I just bought a hybrid. Why? It makes sense and it doesn’t make sense. So let’s talk this through. I bought one, and if you’re thinking about getting one, I think it can...
View ArticleRental property: a good investment
Is rental property a good investment? It certainly is if you do it right. Here’s what you need to know. I’ve seen several formulas for success, but I follow the one-percent rule, because you can do it...
View ArticleWill baseball cards ever be valuable again?
“Will baseball cards ever be valuable again?” someone asked me recently. The answer is that it depends. Not all cards were valuable in the first place. Part of the problem is there was a time when 90%...
View ArticleWhere Lionel trains are made
Lionel is an iconic American brand, and I often hear people refer to it as a made-in-the-USA company. But it’s been a long time since that’s been where Lionel trains are made. Or at least the majority....
View ArticleIs it worth it to buy a house?
A lot of people will say if you are asking is it worth it to buy a house, the answer is automatically no. As a homeowner and landlord, I think the answer is more complicated than that, so I’m not going...
View ArticleWhy have Marx toys dropped in value?
“Why have Marx toys dropped in value?” you ask? Blame Millennials. Well, actually, my generation bears more of the blame for this one. Blame Gen X. The value of vintage toys tends to follow trends, and...
View ArticleI am not in jail.
The bank vice president apologized for calling the police on me. That’s neither the beginning nor the end of the story, but it seems to me that police involvement of any kind is a sign that your real...
View ArticleMy counterpoint to Forget Frugality
I saw a reference this week to an editorial by Ramit Sethi called Forget Frugality. While he has some good points, I think some of his advice is counterproductive and even contradictory. He argues that...
View ArticleWhy I bought a hybrid
Gas is around $2 a gallon, and I just bought a hybrid. Why? It makes sense and it doesn’t make sense. So let’s talk this through. I bought one, and if you’re thinking about getting one, I think it can...
View ArticleRental property: a good investment
Is rental property a good investment? It certainly is if you do it right. Here’s what you need to know. Expressing success mathematically I’ve seen several formulas for success, but I follow the...
View ArticleWill baseball cards ever be valuable again?
“Will baseball cards ever be valuable again?” someone asked me recently. The answer is that it depends. Not all cards were valuable in the first place. Part of the problem is there was a time when 90%...
View ArticleWhere Lionel trains are made
Lionel is an iconic American brand, and I often hear people refer to it as a made-in-the-USA company. But it’s been a long time since that’s been where Lionel trains are made. Or at least the majority....
View ArticleIs it worth it to buy a house?
A lot of people will say if you are asking is it worth it to buy a house, the answer is automatically no. As a homeowner and landlord, I think the answer is more complicated than that, so I’m not going...
View ArticleWhy have Marx toys dropped in value?
“Why have Marx toys dropped in value?” you ask? Blame Millennials. Well, actually, my generation bears more of the blame for this one. Blame Gen X. The value of vintage toys tends to follow trends, and...
View ArticleShould I paint my basement?
Painting a basement is a cheap way to really improve its appearance. It also takes a fraction of the time it takes to finish it. But it’s not a zero-maintenance option. So, should I paint my basement?...
View ArticleWhat to do with an unsolicited offer to buy property
Another day, another unsolicited offer to buy property. Maybe it’s a postcard in the mail. Sometimes it’s a letter. Maybe it’s an unsolicited phone call. Why are they bothering you, and what can you do...
View ArticleI am not in jail.
The bank vice president apologized for calling the police on me. That’s neither the beginning nor the end of the story, but it seems to me that police involvement of any kind is a sign that your real...
View ArticleMy counterpoint to Forget Frugality
I saw a reference this week to an editorial by Ramit Sethi called Forget Frugality. While he has some good points, I think some of his advice is counterproductive and even contradictory. He argues that...
View ArticleWhy I bought a hybrid
Gas is around $2 a gallon, and I just bought a hybrid. Why? It makes sense and it doesn’t make sense. So let’s talk this through. I bought one, and if you’re thinking about getting one, I think it can...
View ArticleRental property: a good investment
Is rental property a good investment? It certainly is if you do it right. Here’s what you need to know. Expressing success mathematically I’ve seen several formulas for success, but I follow the...
View Article